Brahms: Ein deutsches Requiem

A Hamburg Requiem

The fact that one of Johannes Brahms’ most celebrated works did not have its premiere in Hamburg, but rather in the neighbouring city of Bremen, may still gnaw at Hamburg’s image of itself as the home city of the great composer. A real tradition was born in Hamburg, in the 19th and 20th centuries, of the German Requiem being performed on the annual Penitential Day – spurred on not least by the city’s great choral tradition. Hamburg’s philharmonic orchestra was involved in many of the performances, including the first recital in Hamburg in 1869. Now Kent Nagano adds a new interpretation to this performative history stretching back more than 150 years – presenting the work together with various Hamburg choirs in the version performed at the premiere in Bremen Cathedral in 1868, under the direction of Brahms himself.